FECAL SLUDGE MANAGEMENT IN THE NORTHWEST AREA OF HO CHI MINH CITY

Abstract

The number of on-site sanitation facility is expected to increase in the future and the operation of fecal sludge management system in Ho Chi Minh City is not approriated, that would be a potential hazards to public health and sanitation. This study aims at assess the current situation of the fecal sludge management system along sanitation value chain. This study surveyed 130 households in the Northwest area of Ho Chi Minh City using the questionaire and collected secondary data from the stakeholders. Based on the collected results, the current status of fecal sludge management is illustrated by the Shit Flow Diagram to assess the safety of the management system. The solutions would be proposed based on these results. The results show that 97% of households have built septic tanks. The proportion of septic tanks connected to the drainage system was 63.1%. The average period of desludging in the study area is 11.5 ± 6.8 years. According to the Shit Flow Diagram, the current fecal sludge management in the area has not been managed safely. The study has preliminarily assessed the current status of fecal sludge management in the study area in order to develop a suitable management and treatment plan for the new urban area.